Odell Lake

Overview

Odell Lake is an educational game developed and published by MECC for Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, and PC.

The original version of Odell Lake was developed by Ken Witt for the MECC Timeshare System in the 1970s.

The first release on the Apple II was in 1980 as a part of two different educational software packages. These software packages were Elementary Volume 4, and Science Volume 3. This version, unlike its predecessor featured basic graphics.

In 1982 a full color version of Odell Lake was included in the software package Elementary Biology for the Atari 8-bit computers.

In 1984 other versions of the game were released in packages such as Simulations for IBM PCs, Outdoor Biology for the Radioshack Color Computer and Commodore 64 (in 1985).

The version that was released by itself for the Apple II that features full color and animations was released in 1986.

Gameplay

Odell Lake is an educational game aimed at getting kids to learn about food chains and predator/prey relationships.

At the title screen players have four options to choose from.

Get Information

The get information section will allow players to learn how to play the game, see a list of all high scores, learn about the fish that will be encountered in Odell Lake, and teacher information.

The teacher information tells the teacher how to use the included manual, how to receive more information about other MECC products, and a color bar screen to help adjust monitor colors.

Go Exploring

The go exploring section is the main game play mode. In Odell Lake players take on the role of various types of lake fish. Different lake creatures will be encountered which then has players choosing an action to try and survive.

The types of fish that players can play as are:

• Blueback Salmon
• Chub
• Dolly Varden
• Mackinaw Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Whitefish

Once a fish type is chosen to play as players will then encounter a type of lake creature. Once this creature approaches players have five options to choose from. The correct option needs to be made in order to survive. The types of options are:

• Eat
• Chase Away
• Ignore
• Shallow Escape
• Deep Escape

If the wrong option is chosen players are told why they were wrong and asked if they want to try again. If the correct answer is chosen players will then move on to the next creature.

Play For Points

In play for points players still perform the main game play functions by selecting the correct actions against the various creatures. However, in this mode players will be on a time limit. Each successful choice awards players with points.

The more points that are earned the faster the game will go. Every five correct answers will switch which fish the player is in the role of.

Quit

The quit option simply quite out of Odell Lake. The screen then asks players to insert another diskette.

System Requirements

Apple II Recommended

• Apple II Series Computer
• 64K RAM
• Color Monitor Recommended